Michael Carrick was officially unveiled as the interim Manchester United head coach until the end of the season after the club were dumped out of the FA Cup
Manchester United interim head coach Michael Carrick could secure a reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo.(Image: )
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Manchester United's interim head coach Michael Carrick could be set for a surprise reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo worth a potential £10m to the club. The Sun claims the Reds are exploring the possibility of a mid-season friendly in Saudi Arabia to help fill the club's financial blackhole, which would see the two United legends reunited.
The report claims a trip to Saudi Arabia could bank around £10million, with just 17 games left this season following the early exit from the FA Cup. The defeat to Brighton meant it's the earliest United have exited both domestic trophies at the earliest opportunity since 1981-82.
The club are now set to play just 40 games this season after missing out on a place in European football last year, making it the fewest games played in a season for 111 years.
United took home £160.3m in match-day income from 30 games last season, helped by their run to the Europa League Final, albeit where they suffered defeat against Tottenham Hostpur.
Now, under Carrick's leadership, the club will host ten fewer games at Old Trafford this season compared to last, with each game valued at around £5.3m.
Exiting the FA Cup has opened up two gaps in the calendar when the fourth and fifth rounds of the competition are set to take place. It means United have 13 days without a game in February and then another 10-day break in March prior to the international break.
The same media outlet claims United held taks with the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia about visiting the country.
The club may not necessarily end up visiting the Middle East, but if they do, they could take on Ronaldo's Al-Nassr as part of potential plans for The Riyadh Season Cup.
Carrick was a teammate of the Portuguese superstar during the 2000s before managing Ronaldo during his first stint as caretaker manager back in 2021.
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United takes instructions from Michael Carrick
Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United takes instructions from Michael Carrick(Image: Getty Images)
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The Riyadh Season usually runs from October to March and said cup - a three-way tournament against Ronaldo's side and fellow capital club Al-Hilal - could be an option.
United missed out on £100m in prize money after defeat to Spurs in the Europa League Final last May and the club suffered from a massive fall in match-day revenue.
The club made the decision to raise ticket price rises in order to combat that shortfall, with new executive seating in the lower South Stand at Old Trafford also an attempt to counteract any loss of income.
The pre-season tour of Asia saw Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. bank around £7.8million during their pre-season tour of Asia before a trip to the US almost equalled that a month later.
The likes of AC Milan, RB Leipzig and Sevilla also failed to secure European football and could be potential opponents if a mid-season friendly is planned.